Adam Peters needed to find a defensive tackle to compensate for Jonathan Allen's departure. The Washington Commanders general manager opted for a monumental gamble that raised eyebrows around the league.
The Commanders signed defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million contract. This came after an inconsistent season with the New York Jets in 2024 where he secured 4.5 sacks and 40 tackles. Considering the options in the draft and Allen's overall influence, this was a strange turn of events.
Peters earned plenty of trust over his first year at the helm. The front-office leader turned the Commanders from a laughingstock into a legitimate contender quickly. If he feels like Kinlaw can fit into the system and become impactful on the defensive line rotation, that should be enough to get the benefit of the doubt.
Javon Kinlaw must repay Commanders' faith after huge commitment
That doesn't detract from the questions surrounding this deal. Kinlaw flashed brief promise with the Jets last season, but some of his performances were lackluster and he was often a liability.
Kinlaw's career fizzled out on the San Francisco 49ers. Peters was part of the brain trust that drafted him No. 14 overall, but he never quite reached his billing. Most analysts thought he'd get another one-year deal somewhere in the hope of galvanizing his career. The Commanders held a different opinion, providing him with long-term security and a chance to rebuild more stable foundations.
The fact Kinlaw is getting $15 million per season suggests the Commanders envisage a big role for the player. Daron Payne and Johnny Newton are also occupying positions on the defensive tackle depth chart. Having three keeps everything fresh and will hopefully avoid the complications that blighted them in the NFC Championship game.
Allen, who is scheduled to meet with the Minnesota Vikings ahead of potentially securing a fresh start, leaves a gaping hole. Kinlaw is tasked with filling the void, but he'll need to be highly motivated and improve some technical flaws before confidence in his chances increases.
It's a huge gamble from Peters, there's no getting away from that. Much will depend on how the contract is structured, but it would be surprising if it was easy to get off until 2027 if things don't go according to plan. There's obvious conviction in the player. But the pressure is now on to repay this faith.
Peters knows what he's doing. He wouldn't have stumped up this much cash if there wasn't supreme confidence in Kinlaw's ability. Looking at his performances overall last season, a huge step-up is required.
Otherwise, this has the makings of a disaster waiting to happen.
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